Style, zest and interest
To my mind this ITV Northanger Abbey production is probably the best Austen adaptation I have seen yet.

First, between writer Andrew Davies and director Jon Jones the production team create a perfect blend of trueness to the novel and period yet with contemporary (to us) zest. The truth to the book and period comes in the stunning costumes, choice of gothic abbey, and ballroom scenes with the usual dances and the like. The point about the costumes and setting is that some more expensive productions don't have much in the way of accuracy or charm, whereas this made-for-TV attempt gets it right straight off the bat. The zest that I speak of comes in the delicious way that the direction and script enhances the romantic growth between Catherine and Henry (including the creation of true chemistry and even romantic tension that is often dead or left to the imagination in adaptations), as well as the very well-played, gothic imaginings of Catherine which are creative licence but of the best kind if one actually knows that literary period. The directorial timing is simply exquisite. There are only two disconnects. First is the rather sudden fight between Henry and Catherine which is not buffered enough in that they go from blissful understanding to a complete break which, in the novel or not, rings poorly. Second, the Austen voice-over could perhaps have been managed better, perhaps rather using conversation between incidental characters.

The casting team should also be bought drinks. Felicity Jones is wonderful in her portrayal of Catherine, combining the freshness of youth with an explicit yet tempered growth in her burgeoning feminine charms. Her interplay with JJ Feild as Henry is charming and sexy. She plays a character every guy would love to take home. Finally, she is perhaps the prettiest lead yet which signifies nothing except for sale value. JJ Feild is also very good, not only because he plays so well, and the same comment about the interplay applies, but in his portrayal of Henry he is sufficiently playful and even a little saucy that those who have not read the book are left quite unsure of whether he is good or bad. The choice and portrayals of the incidental characters are also excellent (especial kudos to Sylvestra Le Touzel for the essential Mrs. Allen comic touch), with the possible exception of William Beck as John Thorpe, who is perhaps a little too loathsome as a character, which weakens the uncertainty as to who the good guy is (a constant Austen device).

Overall this adaptation is so good because it salutes and yet in so many ways enhances the novel, once again in the extension of Catherine's romance as well as in the gothic touches, and with irreplaceable directorial and screenplay excellence. It is relevant and more than palatable to modern day audiences, and well worth a watch.

Austen Fan Regrets...
I regret to say that this adaptation captures in accurate, lush, lavish (can't have an Andrew Davies screenplay without that word) detail all the uncomfortably childish moments, all the insipid sentimentality of the book. I am an Austen Fan, and I could barely sit through this film. I'm a Sondheim fan, and I still squirm listening to some bits of West Side Story. Sondheim himself admitted in interview, to squirming, too. Jane Austen, I am sure, groans whenever anyone revivifies Northanger Abbey. Please, finally, now that the Definitive Davies has done it, can she rest in peace?

une happy end comme une météorite
Jolie actrice interprétant bien l'héroïne, mais une fois de plus les personnages masculins sont bâclés.
les dialogues sont très volumineux et TRES TRES mal sous-titrés à un tiers environ des propos tenus!


An enjoyable production, but it has its flaws
I have yet to see a perfect film or television adaptation of Northanger Abbey, but this one probably comes as close as any. It has its flaws, particularly in some of the screenplay. This has its weaknesses particularly in the dialogue, although I suppose this is inevitable when one tries to condense a novel into 93 minutes. The wonderful scene at the dance with that delightful conversation between Henry and Catherine where Henry says "Then we are on very unequal terms , for I understand you perfectly well", to which Catherine replies with one of the best lines in the novel: "Me? Yes, I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible", is left out of this adaptation in its entirety. Indeed, much of the dialogue which defines Catherine's character is left out, or altered inappropriately. Her attractive honesty and naïvety, and the less easily perceived complexities of her character are thus given little chance to be defined. Other characters also are not quite correctly drawn. Mrs Allen, for example, is rather too rational and intelligent to be consistent with her character in the book. John Thorpe, probably the worst example of mis-characterization, while not exactly pleasant, is far from being the utterly obnoxious character he is in the novel. This places a completely different complexion on some of the important scenes which are included. We also have the almost obligatory change of plot in modern adaptations, i.e. the way in which Catherine is expelled from the Abbey, thus making the main characters reaction to it, and the story's ultimate dénoument, a little less forceful and a little more contrived. There are other flaws, but I won't continue to enumerate them. On the whole it is well done, and I enjoyed it very much.

Brilliant
Having seen the older BBC adaptation of Northanger Abbey with Peter Firth (which was awful), I was a bit skeptical as to what this one would be like when it first came out. But, how wrong I was! I was delighted with this, as not only is it faithful to the book, the settings and the music are all brilliant too, as well as the acting. Felicity Jones is perfect as Catherine Morland, as is J.J. Field in the part of Henry Tilney; not to mention Carey Mulligan as Isabella and Catherine Walker as Eleanor.
A splendid version (definitely the best Northanger Abbey), but then, hardly surprising, seeing as the great Andrew Davies did the screenplay! :)
Highly recommended.

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